The Handbook to the Rivers and Broads of Norfolk & Suffolk Part 9

7 miles. The river is full of roach, bream, perch, and pike, although it is much fished. Boats at Jimpson's or Whittaker's, where there is also fair accommodation for visitors. The Broad is a mile and a half down stream, from the bridge. It can be fished by permission only. Tickets to fish on the Broad can be obtained through Mr. C. J. Greene, Fis.h.i.+ng Tackle Maker, London Street, Norwich, at 2s. 6d. per boat.

COLTISHALL.

Two miles further. The fis.h.i.+ng is much better here than is generally supposed, but boats are not plentiful. Enquire at the waterside who is likely to have one at liberty.

The Eastern and Midlands line runs from Yarmouth through the heart of the Broad District to North Walsham, on the Norwich, Wroxham, and Cromer line. The stations from Yarmouth are-

ORMESBY.

A mile and a half from its Broads, about 200 acres of which are free.

The fis.h.i.+ng is as good as it can be for pike, rudd, roach, and bream.

Boats at the "Eel's Foot" and "Sportsman's Arms." Staying accommodation at the former.

MARTHAM.

Not far from the river Thurne, but the next station is more convenient.

POTTER HEIGHAM.

Inns, the "Falgate" and "Waterman's Arms," where there is staying accommodation. Good boats at Applegate's. The river Thurne and the channels through Heigham Sounds and Hickling swarm with bream, rudd, perch, roach, pike, and eels.

CATFIELD.

The nearest station to Hickling, but not so convenient for boats.

STALHAM.

Barton Broad is within a mile and a half, where the fis.h.i.+ng is excellent.

Plenty of boats obtainable at the end of the d.y.k.e. Inns, the "Maid's Head" and the "Swan," both very comfortable. Stalham is a pretty village.

Thence to North Walsham there is no fis.h.i.+ng station of interest.

On the direct line between Yarmouth and Lowestoft, ST. OLAVE'S is the nearest station to Fritton.

ACLE

Is now a station on the new line between Norwich and Yarmouth, joining the old line at Brundall.

Of places not accessible by rail, the chief is Horning Ferry, on the Bure, where there is a capital inn to stay at, kept by a good host and sportsman, Mr. Thompson, who can be relied upon to make his visitors comfortable. At Horning village, the "New" Inn deserves mention, and boats can be procured there. Horning is about four miles' drive from Wroxham, and ten from Norwich.

The reader is requested to look at the Map, and note the relative position of the various places. As to fis.h.i.+ng, it can hardly be said that one is better than another, for all are so good.

NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK FISHERIES ACT.

Under this Act, which was pa.s.sed in 1877, certain Bye-laws have been made, with which the reader should make himself acquainted.

APPROVED BYE-LAWS.

CLOSE TIME-ALL WATERS.

1. No person shall fish for, catch, take, or kill, or attempt to catch, take, or kill, otherwise than by rod and line, within the limits of the above Act, any Trout, between the 10th day of September and the 25th day of January, both days inclusive, or any other kind of fish, between the 1st day of March and the 30th day of June, both days inclusive, except Smelts, Bait, and Eels, as hereinafter provided.

NETS GENERALLY.

2. No person shall, for the purpose of taking Fish within the limits of the above Act, do any of the following things:- 1. Use or attempt to use any Net between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise, except in the River Ouse below Denver Sluice, and in the River Nene below Wisbeach Bridge.

2. Use or attempt to use, at any time before the 30th day of June, 1890, for the purpose of taking Fish, other than Tench, Smelts, Bait, and Eels, any Net having a mesh of less dimensions when wet than three inches from knot to knot, measured on each side of the square, or twelve inches all round.

3. Use or attempt to use any Net having a wall or facing, with a mesh of less dimensions when wet than seven inches from knot to knot, measured on each side of the square, or 28 inches all round.

4. Use or attempt to use, in any navigable river, any Bow Net.

5. Use or attempt to use, in any navigable river, any Drag Net having a poke or pocket.

6. Use or attempt to use a drag net of any kind in the under-mentioned waters:- 1. The River Yare or Wensum-

2. The River Waveney-

3. The River Bure, below the lower entrance into Wroxham Broad-

4. The River Ant, below the lower entrance into Barton Broad-

5. The River Thurne, below the entrance into Somerton Broad- except with the previous permission in writing of the Board of Conservators, under their Common Seal.

3. No person shall, within the limits of the above Act, use or attempt to use, any net for taking Fish, unless it is sufficiently weighted to sink vertically in the water, or take, or attempt to take, Fish by placing two or more Nets behind or near to each other, or use any other device or artifice so as practically to diminish the size of the mesh of any net allowed to be used by these Bye-Laws, or to evade this provision.

PROHIBITING USE OF TRIMMERS, &C., IN NAVIGABLE RIVERS.

4. No person shall use, or attempt to use, any Trimmer, Ligger, Dead Line, or Snare, or any like Instrument or Engine, for the purpose of taking Fish in any navigable river within the limits of the above Act, except Lines for taking Eels as hereinafter provided.

TAKING SMELTS.-RIVERS YARE AND WENSUM.

5. No person shall, within the limits of the above Act, use, or attempt to use, any Net in the River Yare or Wensum for the purpose of taking Smelts, except a Cast Net or Drop Net, between the 10th day of March and the 12th day of May, both days inclusive, and then only between the New Mills, in the parish of Saint Swithin, in the City of Norwich, or Trowse Bridge, in Trowse, or Trowse Newton, and the junction of the Rivers Yare and Wensum at a place known as Trowse Hythe, and between Hardley Cross and the junction of the Rivers Yare and Waveney.

6. No person shall use, or attempt to use, a Cast Net or Drop Net exceeding 16 feet in diameter, in the River Yare or Wensum, within the limits of the above Act.